The soldier looked at Kitt with worry engraved into his face.
"That's exactly what happening! The councilmen are announcing to everyone who has to leave the Refuge. C'mon!" Grabbing Kitt's wrist he dragged him along into the multi-purpose room.
The multi-purpose room was packed full of people. Some were working, some were eating, some were sleeping, but all were worried. A bedraggled old frog, holding a stack of papers, walked sullenly to the podium at the end of the room. Councilman Zugler, normally a kindly old man, had chosen the short straw and was forced to be the one to announce the names. He cleared his throat into the microphone, silencing the crowd. He looked over the congregation sadly, as he knew that he was sentencing many of these people to death.
"People of the Refuge...As you know, there have been issues about space. A new wave of refugees are at our gates as of now. The Council has decided that, in order to restore what is left of our races, to excommunicate 900 people." The crowd gasped at the number. More than 1/3 of the Refuge was being forced out. Many parents clung to their children, willing to fight to the death should they have to.
"Those who have been chosen were based on their chances of survival outside these walls. Those with the highest percentages of survival are to be excommunicated." He stopped, surpressing a sob. The highest percentage in the entire Refuge was only 19.7%. He despised himself for what he was about to do. "The list of the Excommunicated will be listed alphabetically by last name."
"Aaronson, Kate..." A cheetah woman in the back let out a surprised yelp as a set of soldiers lead her off. The list continued as more and more people were taken away.
"...Chance, Leeroy..." The frog squinted at the paper for a moment and sighed. "...Clone, Andrew the...Clone, Felix the..." One of the soldiers looked mournfully at Felix. "Oh God...I'm so sorry Felix. C'mon...you have to follow me." Everyone listened intently as the list went on.
"...Goltbenz, Nero..." A hyena boy, no more than 17, shrieked as he heard his name and clung to his parents. The soldiers struggled with the boy and family before restraining them. The mother howled in rage and sorrow as she watched her son get dragged away. The frog continued. "...Hepeho, Gavin..." A few civilians looked back at Gavin muttering to themselves, some mournful, others relieved that they had been skipped. A soldier walked up to him with a stern look on his face."Please come with me, sir."
"...Justins, Jacob...Katame, Shinzuu..." Many soldiers protested at the choice, but were shouted down by one of the councilmen, this one an Elder. The soldiers marched up to Shinzuu and saluted. "Sir! It's been an honor to serve under you, sir!" The soldiers led Shinzuu away, trying to keep from crying.
The crowd was beginning to get antsy as the frog continued. "...Kyzon, Webphry...Lahershia, Tori..." The crowd turned their heads to a surprised Tori. She was one of the best mechanics in the Refuge and they were sending her away. A few murmurs began to go about the room about the Council picking at random. A soldier took Tori away, without saying a word.
"...Magnus, Sonya...Magnuson, John..." The people of the crowd turned to John, not knowing what to say. A soldier placed his hand on John's shoulder. "Please come with me, sir." The soldier led John through the crowd. As he walked he could see a small fox child waving him good-bye with tears streaming down his face.
Many people had left the multi-purpose room because they had been spared, bot most simply didn't wish to hear any more names. "...Ukima, Mao...Uzima, Veronica..." A man shouted at the Council for not choosing percentages at all. He accused the them of simply drawing names out of a hat. The Elder councilman screeched for the man to be silent, lest he wish to take someone's place. The man quickly shrunk away, as the rest of the congregation stopped talking altogether. None would take the place of an Excommunicated. A soldier walked up next to Vee with a frown. "Come with me, cadet."
The room stayed silent as the remaining names were listed. "...Vincent, Todd...Vladimir, Kitt..." The soldier at Kitt's side covered his mouth in shock. He turned to Kitt in tears and placed his hand on his shoulder. "I...I'm sorry." He walked away so as not to put himself through any more guilt, as Kitt was escorted out.
"...Williams, Millie...Wolf, White..." No one said a word. He had not made himself much of a name, other than 'the grumpy guy'. Despite this, a little cat girl ran up to him and held ahold of his leg and screamed "NO!" The girls parents quickly took her away, and White was led out quietly.
The last names were listed off quickly and, finally, the 900 names were given. The incoming refugees were let in. Those who were excommunicated were led outside one at a time. Small groups banged on the doors, trying to get in, but to no avail. Many more walked into the endless white to die by the cold, as it was far preferrable to a meetup with a creature. Some groups accepted their fate (if bregrudgingly) and made their way south.
You are one of these lost souls, and have banded together with others. You seem drawn to eachother by an unknown force. All you know is that the only way you will survive is to stay with them. You have already spent a week outside the walls of the Refuge, and have made your way into Canada.
This is where your adventure begins...
Topic: The Animus (Read 22480 times)